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Posted: 9/16/2025 8:00:26 PM EDT
[Last Edit: ButchA61][Edited]
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** CROSS POSTED FROM ANOTHER FORUM (not guitar related) -- TOO LAZY TO RETYPE EVERYTHING ** I was out earlier today, running errands and decided to stop into Guitar Center, down off Hull St. No rhyme or reason, I decided to pop in and look around. I ventured into their private "Acoustic Room" in a closed off area. $7,500 Martin's, Taylor, Takamine, Gibson, etc... I drooled, as any guitar player would. So, I went over to the more down to earth section, Epiphone, Alvarez, Yamaha, etc... and for some reason, I picked up this gloss black Epiphone Hummingbird and sat down on a stool. I strummed a basic "E" chord and I died.  This acoustic guitar just ...sang! I couldn't believe my ears. I went all over the guitar, neck angle, string action, intonation issues(?), and it was absolutely perfect. Kind of like a diamond in the rough, as they say. I asked the young kid in there to fetch me a 9v battery for the onboard Fishman pickup system, and I played it through a real acoustic amp in the room. Again, I died. It came home with me. No question about it. I had to. Only guitar players will understand... 
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Congrats. Sometimes even lower priced guitars just get made "right". I have an old Yamaha sitting next to me on the couch right now. Cost $300 used some years back. I also own several guitars that Guitar Center would love to have in their special rooms. I'd be OK if the Yamaha was the only guitar I had. Well no I LIKE having all of them but I mean I'm OK with the Yamaha to play and plug in. |
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I made a YouTube video/review earlier this morning.... Sorry for being a little long-winded. I aimed the main focus of the video for non-musicians or someone who is looking to get a guitar and take lessons. Brand new Epiphone Hummingbird acoustic/electric guitar (Review) |
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Originally Posted By ButchA61: I made a YouTube video/review earlier this morning.... Sorry for being a little long-winded. I aimed the main focus of the video for non-musicians or someone who is looking to get a guitar and take lessons.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFgNxaA9K40It does have similar character to my vintage J45 from what I can tell with youtube audio quality. If anything, it may be a little brighter which is really a good thing as they were a little boomy/bassy. |
Crap Magnet Extraordinaire
| My latest acoustic was one of those that you see, play, and fall in love with. It's an Ibanez with the A.I.R. Port opening on top of the body. I saw it at Guitar World, picked it up, played a bit, and loved the way it sounded. Out of my three acoustics (Fender and Art & Lutherie are the other two) it's my favorite to play. |
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You gotta ignore that name on the headstock. If it is right the right one for you, you know it. I have played a lot of guitars with very high end names and price tags to match that don't have what a lot of lesser pedigree guitars have. Good for you on finding one. |
Harley owner in the Church of J. M. Browning
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Originally Posted By DADGAD: You gotta ignore that name on the headstock. If it is right the right one for you, you know it. I have played a lot of guitars with very high end names and price tags to match that don't have what a lot of lesser pedigree guitars have. Good for you on finding one. |
Taxation is Theft
Government is Slavery
Government is Slavery
2 legs move our bodies. 4 legs buck our ass off
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I had one of those. Not a great guitar-not a bad guitar. It was a tank that probably was built better than their Bozeman guitars. Took a lot of energy in to make it work. Play it til your fingers bleed!  My; “if I had to give up all my great guitars for just one guitar”…. Is a Breedlove-all Myrtlewood-bought off the factory showroom. |
Pure blood saved by His.
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Just a quick update regarding my Epiphone Hummingbird that I got at Guitar Center south of town about 2 weeks ago... I changed the strings, whatever they were, and stuck with .12's I decided to try common D'Addario 80/20 Bronze, and they are bright, snappy, and lively. After these 2 weeks, they settled in and toned down a bit. Fishman electronics: volume=cranked. tone=one thumbwheel down. Pick: Dunlop Max-grip .88 nylon. Amp: Boss Katana Artist (acoustic channel), a hint of built-in phase-90 effect, bass: 11 o'clock, mid: 1 o'clock, treble: noon. Sound: Classic 70's singer/songwriter, type of folk stuff... Love it!
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I still haven't been to Guitar Center since they removed the locks from the guitars. I was off on Friday and the wife had to work, so I planned to go hang out in the acoustic room at GC. Went out to the garage to discover water running from the water heater closet.  Ended up staying home until after 2:00 pm, when the new install was completed.
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Pour over coffee is best coffee.
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Originally Posted By ButchA61: I made a YouTube video/review earlier this morning.... Sorry for being a little long-winded. I aimed the main focus of the video for non-musicians or someone who is looking to get a guitar and take lessons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFgNxaA9K40I finally made it to GC, with the intention of trying a Yamaha FG3X, and it was the first guitar on the wall, just inside the door. I tried it and had the same reaction as you did to the Hummingbird. I tried a few other big name guitars but none spoke to me like the Yamaha. I decided to take a chance and order the non-pickup version from Sweetwater and I was not disappointed. I've had it almost a week and today was the first time I did a back-to-back comparison with my other guitars and now I love it even more. My Yamaha FG700S sounds dead compared to the sparkle and resonance of the FG3. I was aware of the FG700S's limitations but the difference shocked me. I then took down my Taylor 110e, not knowing how it would compare with the FG3, but even though the Taylor sounds pretty good, it's no comparison to my new guitar. The new Yamaha is all solid wood, whereas the Taylor has laminated back and sides. The Yamaha also has a torrefied top and scalloped bracing, so I guess all that makes quite a difference. |
Pour over coffee is best coffee.
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Originally Posted By ButchA61: ** CROSS POSTED FROM ANOTHER FORUM (not guitar related) -- TOO LAZY TO RETYPE EVERYTHING ** I was out earlier today, running errands and decided to stop into Guitar Center, down off Hull St. No rhyme or reason, I decided to pop in and look around. I ventured into their private "Acoustic Room" in a closed off area. $7,500 Martin's, Taylor, Takamine, Gibson, etc... I drooled, as any guitar player would. So, I went over to the more down to earth section, Epiphone, Alvarez, Yamaha, etc... and for some reason, I picked up this gloss black Epiphone Hummingbird and sat down on a stool. I strummed a basic "E" chord and I died. This acoustic guitar just ...sang! I couldn't believe my ears. I went all over the guitar, neck angle, string action, intonation issues(?), and it was absolutely perfect. Kind of like a diamond in the rough, as they say. I asked the young kid in there to fetch me a 9v battery for the onboard Fishman pickup system, and I played it through a real acoustic amp in the room. Again, I died. It came home with me. No question about it. I had to. Only guitar players will understand... https://i.imgur.com/i59S3Qoh.jpg I picked up a Gibson J45 Standard off the wall and OMG!!!!!! It literally sounded like I was playing it thru a chorus effect. Chords sounded almost like a 12-string and arpeggiated chords sounded like an Angelic choir. Honestly, I never thought a guitar could affect me like that. It was a little emotional and 30 minutes later, my head is still spinning a bit. I now know what I will be looking for in my next guitar. 
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Pour over coffee is best coffee.